In November 2024, Six Nations of the Grand River (SNGR) filed a Statement of Claim in Ontario Superior Court against Canada over its failure to ensure a reliable supply of safe drinking water to Six Nations of the Grand River First Nation.
The claim seeks a court order that would require Canada to immediately take steps to ensure that all members who live on reserve will have access to safe drinking water directly from taps in their homes.
If successful, the claim will require Canada to work together with Six Nations to fix the problem now, not at some indefinite time in the future. It will also require Canada to provide financial compensation for the harm to the community from their past failures. This harm includes harm to health, increased fear and anxiety over inability to access safe drinking water, and loss of connection to our culture, particularly as a result of those members who have had to move away from the community because of this issue.
The claim is still in its early stages. Although we will continue to press forward with the litigation, a final resolution may still be years away.
“We will continue to provide periodic updates on developments in the litigation. In the meantime, we ask all Six Nations members to consider what stories you may have to share about how the lack of a reliable supply of safe drinking water has impacted you and your families, as in the future, our legal counsel will seek to gather as many of our stories as possible to share with the Court,” said the band, in a statement.
